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3.96 AVERAGE
3.96 AVERAGE
I had the distinct pleasure of meeting the author and shaking his hand. He has a look that pierces into your very soul. His books do the same thing. Just read them. The book after THE CHOSEN, which continues the story, called THE GIFT OF ASHER LEV, is probably even better.
What a great story! The contrasting father-son relationships made for a very rich tale. I am a great fan of Potok. His stories are character-driven, and he succeeds in creating characters you want to know.
I have read The Chosen by Chaim Potok several times over the years. It's such a great book with so much to discuss and think about. It's truly a manual on becoming a scholar and finding meaning and purpose in life.
I found myself interacting with this book in two ways. There is a lot to ponder about friendship and in the contrast between two very different father son relationships. Few of the characters are one dimensional as none of us are. The book also left one thinking about the dynamics of an organized religion that puts more focus on the deep analysis of sacred text than on the living out of the text. It also illustrated how differences within a common faith stir more passion and angry conflict than differences between believer and non-believer. Finally, this quote, said in reference to the forming of the Jewish state, jumped off the page for me: "We cannot wait for the Messiah. We have to make our own". Now there's a temptation that lies close at hand for everyone.
I read this in the sixth grade and remember enjoying the philosophy and thoughtfulness that Potok wrote about. It helped that I read this while going to Jewish day school where there was a real focus on Judaism and the different branches of Judaism. I grew up Conservative (loosely) and knew a few Modern Orthodox kids (strangely even more so now as an adult!) and this book I remember being very impactful. One day - if ever - I'd like to do a reread.
I loved Chaim Potok's writing style. The book ties in to history very well, but still deeply develops the characters into people you feel like you know. It is a great coming of age story.
This is an incredibly well written, bittersweet story about faith, family and especially friendship. I loved this book from start to finish. It's on my list of books that should be required reading for everyone.
Ho letto questo libro dopo aver ascoltato, nel canale Telegram "Autostrada del Sud", un estratto e un breve commento che mi avevano molto incuriosita.
Non sono rimasta delusa. Il romanzo caratterizza benissimo una comunità che non conoscevo minimamente, cioè quella ebrea ortodossa nella New York degli anni '40, attraverso le vite dei due protagonisti. Ho trovato la loro amicizia incredibilmente tenera e profonda, fondata su una vera "affinità elettiva". Quando gli eventi storici li portano a posizioni (forse meglio dire fazioni) del tutto differenti, e si ritrovano a non parlarsi più, lo fanno più per assolvere al ruolo che i loro genitori si aspettano da loro. E si continuano a guardare con la coda dell'occhio quando si incrociano, nelle pagine che ho trovato più commoventi.
Il tema della fedeltà a quello che la nostra famiglia si aspetta è sviscerato in modo veramente profondo. Il conflitto di uno dei protagonisti non è semplicemente quello di un adolescente ribelle, ma quello di un ragazzo che sa quanto le sue scelte siano importanti per il senso di sé che suo papà ha. Questo tipo di consapevolezza leviga la sua identità.
C'è un dialogo bellissimo sul finale in cui Reuven gli chiede se educherà i suoi figli con lo stesso metodo con cui è stato cresciuto lui, così doloroso e silenzioso. "Sì, se non troverò un altro modo."
"Look into his soul,’ I said. ‘Stand inside his soul and see the world through his eyes."
Non sono rimasta delusa. Il romanzo caratterizza benissimo una comunità che non conoscevo minimamente, cioè quella ebrea ortodossa nella New York degli anni '40, attraverso le vite dei due protagonisti. Ho trovato la loro amicizia incredibilmente tenera e profonda, fondata su una vera "affinità elettiva". Quando gli eventi storici li portano a posizioni (forse meglio dire fazioni) del tutto differenti, e si ritrovano a non parlarsi più, lo fanno più per assolvere al ruolo che i loro genitori si aspettano da loro. E si continuano a guardare con la coda dell'occhio quando si incrociano, nelle pagine che ho trovato più commoventi.
Il tema della fedeltà a quello che la nostra famiglia si aspetta è sviscerato in modo veramente profondo. Il conflitto di uno dei protagonisti non è semplicemente quello di un adolescente ribelle, ma quello di un ragazzo che sa quanto le sue scelte siano importanti per il senso di sé che suo papà ha. Questo tipo di consapevolezza leviga la sua identità.
C'è un dialogo bellissimo sul finale in cui Reuven gli chiede se educherà i suoi figli con lo stesso metodo con cui è stato cresciuto lui, così doloroso e silenzioso. "Sì, se non troverò un altro modo."
"Look into his soul,’ I said. ‘Stand inside his soul and see the world through his eyes."
I've never read this book before, but in the first fifty or so pages, I felt like I was having deja-vu. I can't figure out where such a feeling came from, but in a weird way it was like coming home to a friend I had not yet met.
The Chosen is a deeply solemn book that explores the intricacies of human relationships in a way that is both very real and very raw. The tension between Reuven and his father and Danny and his father is practically palpable on the page. Potok does a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life; the audience can feel their frustrations and understand their flaws. While Potok's writing itself leaves a little to be desired, for there are certainly very few beautiful sentences in this book, he more than makes up with it through his very thorough and interesting explanation of Jewish culture and the Zionist movement.
My one bone to pick is the distorted timeline in this book. We spend the first third of the book within one week and the last third within four years. In this way, the ending seemed rushed to me, and I would have enjoyed it more had the author spent a little more time on Reuvan and Danny's college years.
*Spoilers*
The ending of this book is absolutely killer though, and while I'm not sure how the author wants the audience to view what is revealed, Reb Saunder's approach to how he raised his son is truly messed up. How can anyone tell if their child at age four has "no soul", and who are you to make such a judgement call? Anyone who chooses to raise their child in silence is emotionally abusing said child, not saving them, and Danny turned out to be who he was not because of his father, but in spite of him. For anyone to think this was a remotely healthy or okay thing to do is beyond my understanding.
Unfortunately, we too see that although Danny has shed most of his family's tradition, he admits that in the future, he would also choose to raise his child this way, which just goes to show how difficult it can be to truly break the cycle of our upbringing. This book might have gotten only three stars if the author had been more explicit in his support of this method of rearing, but I choose to believe he made it controversial simply for discussion sake--that way I can still say that I loved it.
The Chosen is a deeply solemn book that explores the intricacies of human relationships in a way that is both very real and very raw. The tension between Reuven and his father and Danny and his father is practically palpable on the page. Potok does a fantastic job of bringing these characters to life; the audience can feel their frustrations and understand their flaws. While Potok's writing itself leaves a little to be desired, for there are certainly very few beautiful sentences in this book, he more than makes up with it through his very thorough and interesting explanation of Jewish culture and the Zionist movement.
My one bone to pick is the distorted timeline in this book. We spend the first third of the book within one week and the last third within four years. In this way, the ending seemed rushed to me, and I would have enjoyed it more had the author spent a little more time on Reuvan and Danny's college years.
*Spoilers*
The ending of this book is absolutely killer though, and while I'm not sure how the author wants the audience to view what is revealed, Reb Saunder's approach to how he raised his son is truly messed up. How can anyone tell if their child at age four has "no soul", and who are you to make such a judgement call? Anyone who chooses to raise their child in silence is emotionally abusing said child, not saving them, and Danny turned out to be who he was not because of his father, but in spite of him. For anyone to think this was a remotely healthy or okay thing to do is beyond my understanding.
Unfortunately, we too see that although Danny has shed most of his family's tradition, he admits that in the future, he would also choose to raise his child this way, which just goes to show how difficult it can be to truly break the cycle of our upbringing. This book might have gotten only three stars if the author had been more explicit in his support of this method of rearing, but I choose to believe he made it controversial simply for discussion sake--that way I can still say that I loved it.
I don't have anything against this book, I remember liking it but nothing I fell in love with.